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Public Invited to Grand Opening of the Lee County/FGCU Aquatics Center Jan. 241/20/2004

FORT MYERS, FL - Florida Gulf Coast University and Lee County invite the public of Southwest Florida to the grand opening of the new Lee County/FGCU Aquatics Center - just one year and nine days after the groundbreaking - 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 24 across from Alico Arena on the FGCU campus.

After a ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees will be treated to lunch and a swim exhibition by Swim Florida and Gulf Coast Swim Team.

The Lee County/FGCU Aquatics Center houses a 50-meter Olympic competition pool and a 25-yard recreational pool with 1-meter and 3-meter diving platforms, plus locker and shower facilities for men and women. It also includes an office for pool management and a large entrance lobby.

Lee County Schools, the public at-large and Swim Florida will utilize the Olympic-size pool, as well as the community of FGCU and its swim teams.

FGCU received $4,515,000 from Lee County to construct the facility after the County Commission chose the FGCU site. Lee County collected impact fees for four years to fund the total cost of the project.

The Lee County/FGCU Aquatics Center will open to the public for general swimming Jan. 26. Pool hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays. It is closed Sundays and holidays.

Day admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children, seniors over 50 and emergency personnel.Annual swim passes are $60 for individuals and $85 for families.

Swim Florida, in conjunction with FGCU, will provide a variety of recreational and competitive programs. Classes such as water aerobics, swimming lessons and lifeguard certifications will start after March 1.

Representatives from the Lee County Commission, School Board, Parks and Recreation, Mayor of Fort Myers Jim Humphrey, Fort Myers City Council members and Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce are scheduled to attend the event.

FGCU Board of Trustees and Foundation Board members, Student Government Association representatives, and several administrators and staff members will attend along with chairman of the 50-meter Pool Committee Rick Anglickis and representatives from the architecture firm Schenkel Schultz of Fort Myers and Beers Skanska construction of Tampa, which sponsored the grand opening event.

For more information, contact associate vice president for Community Relations Audrea Anderson at (239) 590-1083.